04/25/2023 Planning Commission Minutes - SPECIAL MEETING
PLANNING COMMISSION – SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 6:00 P.M.
Main Meeting Room – Simsbury Town Hall
933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070
I. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Leavitt-Smith called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: George McGregor, Town Planner; Planning Consultant, Glenn Chalder; Chair Leavitt-Smith; Secretary, William Rice; Holly Beum, Joseph Campolieta, Donald Colantonio, Diane Duran, Juliet Eaton, Marcus Furze, and Craig MacCormac.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All present stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
II. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
III. NEW BUSINESS
1. Referral from the Zoning Commission
Application ZC #23-11 of T.J. Donahue, Applicant, Steven Stang/GSHP, LLC, Owner, for a text amendment to the Simsbury Zoning Regulations pursuant to sections 5 and 17 to allow special events as an accessory use in Industrial 1 (I-1) districts.
• Mr. Donahue said that the owner owns a restaurant in a historical building on beautiful property in Tariffville that they have had special events at like weddings, and they would like an administrative permit from the Town Staff to hold special events there without having to come to a Board.
• Secretary Rice stated that this is similar to the Agricultural Special Events Properties and that approval for limited dates were granted.
MOTION: Secretary Rice made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Eaton, that the Planning Commission return a positive referral for the text amendment described in Application ZC #23-11 in accordance with the Plan of Conversation and Development. The motion carried unanimously. (6-0-0).
IV. PLAN OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
POCD Update Discussion
• Mr. Chalder discussed the importance of verbs and encouraged the Board to identify verbs throughout the document that cause them to pull away from a strategy or recommendation.
• The plan is focused on the implementation and has three main principles: concept of livability, including ambience and sense of place; diversity, with inclusion and equity; and sustainability.
• July 25th, is the scheduled date for the Planning Commission to endorse the POCD and schedule the public hearing and adoption for September 26th.
V. GENERAL COMMISSION BUSINESS
None.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. McGregor stated that there is a DEI sponsored event on May 10th on Affordable Housing.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Without objection Chair Leavitt-Smith moved to adjourn. (6-0-0).
Chair Leavitt-Smith adjourned the meeting at 6:42 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amanda Blaze
Commission Clerk